Rail flaw detector mechanism



Dec. 28, 1937. G. JQNES ET AL 2,103,851

' v RAIL FLAwpETEcToR MECHANISM Filed Feb. 6. 195

Snvntors i GEORGE L. JONES ABRAHAM WINBURN Patented Dec. 28 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,103,851 RAIL FLAW DETECTOR MECHANISM of New York Application February 6, 1935, Serial No. 5,250

8 Claims.

This invention relates to rail fiaw detector mechanisms of the type embodied in the Sperry rail flaw detector. 'I fhe operation of these mechanisms is now well known and consists of a car which operates along the rails and carries a mechanism responsive to internal flaws. When such a flaw is encountered an indication is made upon a chart in the moving car and at the same time marking means such as paint is discharged on the rail in the region of flaw.

It is highly desirable that the marking means should operate quickly in response to energization in order that the mark ,on the rail may be properly located, and it is further desirable that the mark be limited in extent to substantially the region of a flaw. If the marking means is slow in responding to an impulse it may be that the paint will be placed upon the rail at a point several inches removed from an actual flaw and may be located at a surface defect such as a burn which the operator will misinterpret. Also, if the mark is too long it may be that the said mark originally was made in response to a surface defect but extends along the rail to such a distance that a fissure near a surface defect will be missed since the operator will interpret the mark, no matter how long, as being due to the surface defect.

This invention, therefore, has for its principal object the provision of rail marking means and actuating means therefor which will result in a quick response of the marking means and which will yield a mark of relatively short length.

Further objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent in the following detailed description thereof.

In the accompanying drawing,

Fig. 1 is a side view of a Sperry rail fissure detector car, the main portion of the car being broken away to show the detector mechanism.

Fig. 2 is a view largely in the form of a wiring diagram illustratingpne form of our invention.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 illustrating another form of the invention.

Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawing, there are shown the parts of a standard Sperry rail fissure detector car which includes a car body I operating along the rails R. Fissure detection is accomplished by passing current through each rail from'a generator G within the car-body supplying current to spaced current brushes II and I2 supported upon the current brush carriage l3 which when in lowered or effective position is adapted to ride upon the rail by means such as wheels IS. The current brush carriage i3 is normally held in elevated or ineffective position (Cl. 177311) g by means of springs, not shown, and cables 5,

but when it is desired to lower said carriage, fluid pressure such as compressed air is supplied to the cylinders I! to force out pistons I8 which are pivotally connected at Hi to the current brush carriage I3. The current passed through the rail by way of spaced brushes II and I2 will establish an electromagnetic field surrounding the rail and this field will be uniform except in the region of flaw, where it will be distorted. Such distortions of the electromagnetic field are detected by a flaw responsive mechanism which may take the form of a pair of opposed-induction coils 22 supported in a housing 23 at a constant distance abovejthe rail surface by means of a carriage 24. Said carriage 24 is mounted on current brush carriage l3 by means of loosely fitting bolts 25 and springs 26 to permit said carriage 24, while riding on the rail on means such as wheels 21, to move independently of carriage l3 so that the said carriage 24 may at all times maintain parallelismwith the rail surface regardless of irregularities thereof. The coils 22 normally cut the same number of lines of force, but on entering a region of fiaw, first one coil and then the other will cut a different number of lines of force to generate a difierential E. M. F. which after being suitably amplified by an amplifier A may be caused to actuate a pen P operating on a chart, not shown. At the same time that pen P is actuated, there is actuated also marking means which may take the iorm of a paint gun 30 mounted on the current brush carriage l3 a suflicient distance behind the flaw responsive members 22 tocompensate for the movement of the car and for the lag in operation of the paint gun.

As stated in the introduction hereto, it is highly desirable that the paint gun be so operated that a relatively short mark will be placed upon the rail in the region of flaw, regardless of the magnitude of the impulse passing through the amplifier A or the length of time that said impulse persists. ious forms of our invention, one of which is disclosed in Fig. 2. In this form of the invention the impulse from amplifier A energizes magnet 40 which attracts its armature 4| against the action of spring 42 to close a set of contacts 43 and close a circuit including a source of energysuch as battery B to energize a magnet which attracts an armature 45 against the action of a spring 46 to actuate the pen P on the chart, not shown. The pen P" normally draws a straight line on the chart which is moving continuously, but when actuated by the magnet 44 it makes a;

For this purpose we have provided varnotch in the straight line, indicating the presence of a flaw in the rail.

At the same time that magnet 44 is energized by the closing of contacts 43 there is also energized a magnet 58 surrounding a fixed core 5|. Said magnet when energized is adapted to attract its armature 52 which may take the form of a U-shaped member in the base of which is provided a resilient container 68 having communication by means of pipe GI and a one-way valve 62 with a source of paint supply, not shown. The valve 62 comprises a ball 1| fixed to the upper end of the coil spring 12 seated within valve chamber 62 and normally holding ball 1| ofi the valve seat 13. When said resilient container 68 is compressed, a valve stem 65 carried thereby is adapted to be moved through the U-shaped member 52 to unseat a valve 86 carried by stem 65 and thus open a passage 61. A fixed plate 18 is provided immediately above the container 68.

The operation of the above device will now become apparent. When an impulse from amplifier A closes contacts 43 to energize pen magnet coil 44 and magnet 58, the armature 52 is attracted by the magnet 58 and thus causes the container 68 to be discharged through discharge passage 61. back into the supply system because the pressure within container 68 causes the ball ll of the one-way valve 82 to be seated against paint inlet valve seat 12 and shut off the supply of paint while container 88 is being discharged. The dimensions of container 68 are such that the movement of armature 52 in response to the attraction of magnet 58 will be such as to discharge said container completely and the dimensions of said container are such that a complete discharge thereof will yield a paint mark of the desired size, which in rail flaw practice has been found to be a mark of about threelinches in diameter. No matter how long the magnet 58 is energized nor how great the impulse passing therethrough, the mark on the rail will always be of constant size because the container 68 is completely discharged at each actuation of arma- 'ture 52 and the quantity of paint held by said be drawn in and flll container 88 which is then ready for the neirt actuation. If desired, in addition to the resiliency of the container 88 itself, a spring may be wound around stem 65 within the container to increase the speed of return of the container to initial position. Guide members 88 may be provided for guiding the movement of armature 52. i

In' Fig. 3 we have shown another form of our invention. In-this formthe impulse from amplifier A again energizes magnet 48, but it has been found desirable to cause said magnet when energized to break contacts 43 against the action of spring 42. This means that pen magnet 44 is normally energized to attractits armature 45 against'the' action of spring 46. Also, magnet 58' is continuously energized to attract its armature 52' and thus maintain closed the valve 8| controlling the discharge of paint from container The paint cannot be discharged- 82 through outlet 83. This is accomplished by means of a lever pivoted at 84 and having one end connected to armature 52' at 85 and being connected on the other side of its fulcrum at 86 to the valve stem 81 of the paint gun. Therefore, since coil 58' is normally energized to attract armature 52', valve stem 81 will be normally depressed to maintain valve 8| closed. When, however, an impulse passes through amplifier A to energize coil 48, contacts 43 are broken, pen magnet 44 is de-energized to permit pen P to be moved by spring 46 to form a notch in the straight line, magnet 58' is de-energized to permit springs 88 to withdraw armature 52 and thus lift valve stem 87 and valve 8| so that the paint may be discharged through outlet 83.

In order that the amount of paint discharged each time valve 8| is operated may be constant, we have provided the following mechanism: Armature 52" carries it its lower end a valve 98 in a chamber 9| which connects by means of pipe 92 with the source of paint supply. When valve 8| is closed, valve 98 being on the other side of pivot 84 is opened, and when valve 8| opens to discharge, the paint valve 98 closes. Since valve 98 closes when valve 8| opens, the amount of paint that can be discharged is constant and is equal to the amount of paint within the measuring chamber 82. In order that this discharge shall take place with sufficient speed to empty the chamber every time coil 58 is deenergized, we have connected the upper end of chamber 82 with a source of compressed fluid supply, preferably compressed air. This connection is made by way of pipe 93 connecting chamber 82 with a valve chamber 94 which has an outlet 95 connected to a source of compressed air-supply. Said source of compressed air is nor- ,mally cut off from chamber 82, while valve 8| isseated, by .means of a valve 98 which is normally held seated at the same time that valve 8| is seated by reason of the fact that its valve stem 9'! is connected to the same side of the fulcrum of the lever as the valve stem 81. Thus, when armature 52' drops by reason of the deenergization of coil 58, both valves 8| and 96 are opened simultaneously so that compressed air blows into the chamber 82 and quickly discharges the paint supply held therein; and since the source of paint supply is closed by reason of valve 98 being seated at the time, a constant amount of paint will be ejected at each actuation of the valve 8|.

To permit the paint to flow into chamber 82 when valve 8| is seated and valve 98 opened,

a float valve 98 is provided in the upper end of chamber 82 and is connected by pin and slot connection I88, I 8| on the same side of the pivot of lever 89 as valve stem 87. Hence, when valve 8| is seated, valve 98 is opened to permit access to the atmosphere through outlet 99 so that paint may enter from chamber 9| into chamber 82, displacing the air through outlet 99, until chamber 82 fills and lifts valve 98 to close the same. When, however, valves 8| and 96 are lifted, valve 98 is seated to close the outlet passage 99 so that neither the compressed air nor paint can be blown through said outlet.

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, we have herein described the principle and operation of our invention, together with the apparatus which we now consider to represent the best embodiment thereof, but we desire to have it understood that the apparatus shown is only illustrative and that the invention can be 75 responsive to flaw, the degree of energization of said responsive means varying with different flaws, a supply of marking fluid, means for separating from said supply a measured quantity of said fluid, and means controlled by energization from said responsive means in excess of a predetermined degree, irrespective of the amount of excess, for discharging said measured quantity of fluid in the region of flaw,

2. In a rail flaw detector mechanism, means responsive to flaw, the degree of energization of said responsive means varying with different flaws, a supply of marking fluid, a container normally connected to said supply and adaptedto contain a measured quantity of said fluid, and

means controlled by energization from said responsive means in excess of a predetermined degree, irrespective of the amount of excess, for disconnecting said container from said supply and discharging said measured quantity of fluid in the region of flaw.

3. In a rail flaw detector mechanism, means responsive to flaw, the degree of energization of said responsive means varying with different flaws, a supply of marking fluid, means for separating from said supply a measured quantity of said fluid, a supply of fluid under pressure, and means controlled by energization from said responsive means in excess of a predetermined de gree, irrespective of the amount of excess,'for connecting said fluid under pressure to said separating means and discharging said measured quantity of marking fluid.

4. In a rail flaw detector mechanism, means responsive to flaw, the degree of energization of said responsive means varying with different flaws, a supply of marking fluid, a container normally connected to said supply and adapted to contain a measured quantity of said fluid, a supply of fluid under pressure normally disconnected from said container, and means controlled by energization from said responsive means in excess of a predetermined degree, irrespective of the amount of excess, for disconnecting said container from said marking fluid supply, connect ing said container to said fluid pressure supply and discharging said measured quantity of marking fluid in the region of flaw.

5. In a rail flaw detector mechanism, means responsive to flaw, the degree of energization of said responsive means varying with diflerent flaws, a supply of marking fluid, a container normally connected to said supply and adapted to contain a measured quantity of said fluid, said container normally being connected with the atmosphere, a supply of fluid under pressure normally disconnected from said container, and means controlled by energization from said responsive means in excess of a predetermined degree,.irrespective oi the amount of excess, for disconnecting said container from said supply of marking fluid, closing said connection of the container with the atmosphere, connecting said container to said fluid pressure supply and discharging said measured quantity of marking fluid in the region of flaw.

6. In a rail flaw detector mechanism, means responsive to flaw, the degree of energization of said responsive means varying with difierent flaws, a supply of marking fluid, a collapsible container normally connected to said supply and adapted to contain a measured quantity of said fluid, and means controlled by energization from said responsive means in excess of a predetermined degree, irrespective of the amount of excess, for disconnecting said container from said supply and collapsing said container to discharge said measured quantity of fluid in the region of flaw.

7. In a rail flaw detector mechanism, means responsive to flaw, the degree of energization of said responsive means varying with different flaws, a supply of marking fluid, a resilient collapsible container normally connected to said supply and adapted to contain a measured quantity of said fluid, means rendered effective by energization from said responsive means in excess of apredetermined degree, irrespective of the amount of excess, when said responsive means encounters a region of flaw, for collapsing" said container to discharge said measured quantity of fluid in the region of flaw, and means controlled by the movements of said container to collapsed and expanded positions for disconnecting and connecting said container to said supply.

8. In a rail flaw detector mechanism, means responsive to flaw, the degree of energization of said responsive means varying with different flaws, a supply of marking fluid, a collapsible container normally connected to said supply and adapted to contain a measured quantity of said fluid, said container having resilient means tending to maintain it in expanded position, means rendered effective by energization from said responsive means in excess of a predetermined degree, irrespective of the amount of excess, when said responsive means encounters a region of flaw, for collapsing said container against the action of said resilient means to discharge said measured quantity of fluid in the region of flaw, and means controlled by the movements of said container to collapsed and expanded positions for disconnecting and connecting said container to. said supply.

' GEORGE L. JONES.

ABRAHAM WINBURN. 

